An Afternoon To Remember: Rapunzel’s Community Performance

On 16 January, something truly special happened inside our Factory Theatre.

Our Community Performance of Rapunzel: A Hairy Tale brought together young people from across Bristol and our wonderful Tea & Tales participants for an afternoon that reminded us exactly why theatre matters.

For many of the young people in the audience, this was their first time experiencing live theatre. That alone made the day feel significant, but what unfolded was something even more joyful: a shared moment of laughter, music and storytelling across generations.

After the show, we asked the children to describe it in just one word. Their answers said everything:

“Amazing.” “Genius.” “Unbelievable.” “Crazily good.” “Incredible.” “Interesting.” “Amazing.”

There is something deeply moving about hearing young people respond so instinctively and enthusiastically to live performance. In a world full of screens, that feeling of collective attention, of gasps, giggles and applause shared in real time, felt quietly powerful.

The atmosphere in the theatre that afternoon was unlike any other. As Helen Sheppard, one of our Tea & Tales participants, so beautifully put it:

“I loved the show, and it was so nice to be surrounded by children, doing a hilarious running commentary throughout the whole performance – and I think that really helped the atmosphere. Seeing their joy was so special. The show was really engaging and the music was absolutely stunning!”

Moments like this remind us that theatre is not just about what happens on stage, but about who we welcome into the room and how those different energies, ages and experiences shape the story together.

We were also delighted to be supported by the wonderful Marshfield Ice Cream, who donated ice creams for everyone attending. It meant that every guest could enjoy not just the show, but the full theatre experience, from curtain up to the final spoonful.

We are incredibly proud of this performance, not just because of the magic of Rapunzel itself, but because of the community it created in that space. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to everyone who helped make the afternoon so special. This is why we do what we do.